Cynthia Garcia Coll - Böcker

Immigrant Stories portrays the contexts and academic trajectories of development of three unique immigrant groups: Cambodian, Dominican and Portuguese. The children of immigrant families - or second generation youth - are the fastest growing population of school children in the US. However, very little is known about these children's academic and psychological development during middle childhood. We examine the previously under-explored intricacies of children's emerging cultural attitudes and identities, academic engagement, and academic achievement. These processes are studied alongside a myriad of factors in the family and school environment that combine to shape children's academic psychological functioning during this important period. Through a three-year longitudinal study, including interviews with teachers, parents and children, this book presents a fascinating look at the community, school, and family contexts of child development among second-generation children. Both pre-immigration and post-immigration characteristics are explored as critical factors for understanding children of immigrants' development. In the current climate of US immigration policy debate, we offer research findings that may inform educators and administrators about the sources of community strengths and challenges facing our newest immigrant generations.

This collection of original papers explores the psychological and social development of the Puerto Rican woman from a lifespan developmental perspective. Using a wide range of methodologies and perspectives, the book addresses important issues of growth and development, among them cultural constructs of womanhood, adaptation to school, early pregnancy, sexuality, migration, autonomy, family interaction, and aging. ChoiceThis collection of original papers explores the psychological and social development of the Puerto Rican woman from a lifespan developmental perspective. Using a wide range of methodologies and perspectives, the book is organized around the major developmental stages: childhood and adolescence, adulthood, and growing old. An ideal supplemental text for courses in the psychology of women, Puerto Rican studies, and cross-cultural psychology, the book addresses important issues of growth and development, among them cultural constructs of womanhood, adaptation to school, early pregnancy, sexuality, migration, autonomy, family interaction, and aging.The book begins with an introductory section that examines the social, demographic, and cultural variables that affect Puerto Rican women and provides a historical and social context for understanding the profound changes experienced by the Puerto Rican people in recent decades. In the section of childhood and adolescence two chapters look at how Puerto Rican girls learn the American student role and the problems of adolescent pregnancy respectively. The following group of papers explore developmental issues during adulthood, with separate chapters on the effects of social background on the expression of female sexuality, the implications of cross-cultural transitions, the role of the single female head of household, the conflict between autonomy and social networks, and the problems of elderly Puerto Rican women. Taken together, these essays offer a spirited contribution to the women's studies curriculum.

What does it mean to find a gene or set of genes that are associated with ADHD, schizophrenia, or autism? Could we eradicate such diseases from our species through gene therapy? Is it possible to eradicate from our genome the genetic material that predisposes us to be too aggressive, too shy, less intelligent, or not active enough? Who has the political power and/or moral authority to make these decisions?The premise of Nature and Nurture is that the complexity of the transactions between nature and nurture--between genes and the environment from the cellular to the cultural level--make these questions incredibly complex and in need of careful attention by educators, scientists, the public, and policymakers. A product of the conference held at Brown University in 2001, this book suggests that genes and environments work together interactively in a complex and closely intertwined fashion. The contributors to this book--biologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and economists--present knowledge that enables research and application to transcend the traditional question of whatever variance or significance is attributed to genetics versus environment in the development of a particular behavioral trait.This book presents a variety of views on the current status of knowledge about the ways in which dynamic, developmental, mutually interactive systems in the genetic and environmental domains operate. The chapters represent contributions from different perspectives.

What does it mean to find a gene or set of genes that are associated with ADHD, schizophrenia, or autism? Could we eradicate such diseases from our species through gene therapy? Is it possible to eradicate from our genome the genetic material that predisposes us to be too aggressive, too shy, less intelligent, or not active enough? Who has the political power and/or moral authority to make these decisions?The premise of Nature and Nurture is that the complexity of the transactions between nature and nurture--between genes and the environment from the cellular to the cultural level--make these questions incredibly complex and in need of careful attention by educators, scientists, the public, and policymakers. A product of the conference held at Brown University in 2001, this book suggests that genes and environments work together interactively in a complex and closely intertwined fashion. The contributors to this book--biologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and economists--present knowledge that enables research and application to transcend the traditional question of whatever variance or significance is attributed to genetics versus environment in the development of a particular behavioral trait.This book presents a variety of views on the current status of knowledge about the ways in which dynamic, developmental, mutually interactive systems in the genetic and environmental domains operate. The chapters represent contributions from different perspectives.